The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-03-31
TYLDTOMUS PILEATUS::'
{ eaas#s . DC M& = n
d, Fac Black Woodpecker, as
Found "at Home"
nj lavantases or Taking 'Bird Notes.
Hs snaky Tongue and Eye--The
Weodpecker "On His Muscle"
An Intruder.

The stidy Of birds has had a charm
ior the greatest as well as the simplest
minds Of all time. Solomon and Homer
ind Chaueef and Shakespeare, those
sdetectiyes of nature'ssecrets,
we're as tireless in their observations as
Darwin ana Wallace have been. The
nthsdcs side u bird study is not less
lsseinating than the scientific side, even
70 Intensely practical persons, and it
NJ W aSnbted whether any field of
iusestigation can afford a deeper in
ight into the mystery of life than that
which covers the history-so far as we
have it-of bird development from both
points Of views3 EEen geology and anat-
any borrow charm from their connec-
doRwilh this stream ofmelody and this
assh Of color which come along with the
birds Nm j time too remote to be told
sy apy calendar, 1t would not be hard
lsmHia great many people who would
ayre with John Ruskin in hurling
snatheraas at those dry-as-dust special
its who view all things. animate and
manimate, as just SO many words in q
sstacgae sof species or specimens; but
lsvery rare indeed that an intelligent
person fails to feel the fascination of a
Tree and liberal study Of nature. Mere
anthology is pleasing only to the
peelalist, but untrammeled bird-study
squite q different thing, and has, as I
lu saia captivated the great minds
y =. al ages. Why should it not. Next
me cities and man, what can COM
Mle with the. woods and the birds?
alexander Selkirk might we'll ask:
Osolitude, where are the charms
Tnat sages have seen in thy face?
Mtthere can be no solitude for the
mug eentemplative mind where birds
w such songs as the mocking bird
mgs are at least fairly next to those
MGerster and Patti. | should find even
Isull lecoast hard 10 aendure for any
seat while if the birds were all ban
alea nom it. With the memory of
asaelels f lonely but not lonesome
lamps in the gulf coast woods for
!ssrs pat SILL fresh in nv mind. it is
10y unnatural that l should speak with
p'9, s''s enthusiasm on the subject of birds.
sosnere in the world is there a country
hso1ably situated for showing (in
y proper seasons) the washing back
s!pfIA ot avian tides of migration as
49, 80 coast and its hilly background
ssa q Mark to New Orleans. So,
= ! may add that no region in
aAstlea equals it for the number and
.snesy ofr its resident, birds. True
as0ghs the negro and the cheap shot
y! ~ aFe doing all they can to kill every
W. mat has wings Ga work in which
= re ably assisted by the agents Of
= s. s'ssa.ilaneiers Y and plume-gatherers), J,
s Z dse always been able To find
Is E spots where the beautiful wild
ss sppesr to have been left to enioy
81 s. annnamemorial haunts without fear
S. s.as Pot Or dread ofthe women,s bon
m m s.. laese spots are to-day just as
I and lonely as they were when
- a siifst began his. wonderful
sna they still have in them just
go s'n shat is new and strange. No
49,. ale naturalist can fail to be fas-
49, 49, me moment he reaches one of
Z A. ne eject isepite as strong
~ g senses ofthe artist. know one
i.n;s,:sc,a is s:sc,arcely . mile distant from the
ad Nashville railroad track,
sss. ass nfty miles from New Orleans.
III s'a aess than three hours 1 filled a
e. ~ .asn sketches and notes which. to
81, soN, Gallup the most delightful
aosssss|0n ss.|0ns and suggest a myriad Of
NJ sss y : ss 9 iresh and fragrant and full OF
ns,s;ssa M sad color as the spots themselves.
diva ~ long' narrow pond with a wood
I'd ses usAs on each side. aswamp at one
.|es, sna 9 pine forest at the other. No
i Mr. + J 1aaight. no paths cross it,
III Ss K ss1e there, no negro comes
: s..;s. ~ leap shotgun. Hound it earrlt
~. Z. when the Northumberland !,
'''es had Just reached it for 3 shori